Cash also loomed large over the Norwich Northern Distributor Road, with the cost of that 12.5 mile road now estimated to come in at £205m.

Extra money had to be added to the £179m budget for the road, which should fully open in 2018.

There was brighter news with the announcement that the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing would get £98m.

Politically, the year saw the Conservatives tighten their grip on County Hall, with UKIP and the Greens wiped out.

But it’s been a tough few months for Tories at North Norfolk District Council, with eight councillors quitting since June.

The repercussions of the county (or at least some of it) saying no to a devolution deal at the back end of 2016 continue to be felt.

Broadland and South Norfolk councils are exploring sharing of services, while county council leader Cliff Jordan mooted a revival of unitary status.

Mr Jordan’s suggestion did not go down well among the councils which would disappear if that happened.

And fissures appeared in the relationship between Broadland, South Norfolk and Norwich over where thousands of homes should be built.

The Labour controlled city had worked with its Conservative led neighbours through the Greater Norwich Development Partnership to draw up a 2011 blueprint for where homes should be built.

But, with more homes needed, 2017 saw conflict between City Hall leader Alan Waters and his Broadland and South Norfolk counterparts Andrew Proctor and John Fuller over where more homes should be built - whether there should be more dispersal in rural areas or focus around Norwich.

With the public asked for views from next month, expect that issue to rear its head once again in 2018.